Tickled and Enthralled

Here’s a good reminder from Thomas Brooks, via GraceGems:

(Thomas Brooks, “A Word in Season to Suffering Saints,” 1675)

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You!” Psalm 63:1-3

Be sure that you don’t take up your greatest delight . . .
  in any creature,
  in any comfort,
  in any contentment,
  in any worldly enjoyment.

When the mother sees that the child is enthralled with the doll or the rattle–she comes not in sight. If you take up your rest in any of the dolls and rattles–in any of the poor things of this world–God will certainly keep out of sight! He will never honor them with His gracious presence–who enthralled with anything below Himself, below His presence.

When you begin to be tickled and enthralled with this and that worldly enjoyment, reason thus, “Here is a gracious spouse, here are precious children, here is a pleasant home, here is a wonderful climate, here is a gainful trade, etc. But what are all these to me–so long God has withdrawn His presence from me?”

Remember this once for all: that the whole world is but a barren wilderness–without the gracious presence of God!